Privateer Basketball Renaissance Begins Friday vs. San Jose State

Rarlensee Nelson (pictured) and the Privateers tip off their 2012-13 campaign on Friday night against San Jose State. (UNO Athletics/Clem Barbazon)

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers men’s basketball team will
make its 2012-13 debut on Friday at 8 p.m. against San Jose State at
Lakefront Arena.

Friday’s contest represents another step in the
renaissance or rebirth for a UNO program which has made several turns
on the NCAA highway the past few years. This year, the Privateers are
competing as an NCAA Division I Independent with membership cemented in
the Southland Conference for 2013-14.

Under the leadership of
head coach Mark Slessinger, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Derek
Morel and President Peter J. Fos, the Privateers are seeking to
re-establish a basketball legacy.

This legacy started by Ron
Greene began with four appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament
and later under the likes of Benny Dees, Don Smith, Tim Floyd and Tic
Price grew to include four runs to the NCAA Division I tournament and
six NIT berths.

Now, seniors Lovell Cook, Rarlensee Nelson and
Darrell Williams along with two other returnees and a cast of 12
newcomers plan to write their own chapter as the season tips off Friday.

A product of Warren Easton, Cook is UNO’s returning leader in scoring
and rebounding with 14 points and 5.1 rebounds a contest. The accolades
of a season ago netted the 6-6 forward third-team All-Louisiana honors
last April and a spot on the College Sports Madness All-Independent
second-team in October.

Cook was joined on the All-Independent
squad by Williams and newcomer Eddie Denard. Williams averaged 5.3
points a game and ranked second on the squad with 81 assists last year.
Denard transfers to the Lakefront from Kirkwood Community College in
Iowa after seeing minutes as a true freshman at Division I
Illinois-Chicago.

Friday’s meeting with SJSU is the first of two
on the season between the squad, which will meet Jan. 8 in San Jose,
Calif. Members of the Western Athletic Conference, head coach George
Nessman’s team was picked ninth in both of the league’s preseason polls.

The Spartans are led by James Kinney, who averaged 15.8 points per game
last season en route to a spot on the WAC All-Newcomer team and
preseason All-WAC second team honors. D.J. Brown and Stephon Smith are
the other returnees.

Talented newcomers include the 6-11 Alex
Brown and 6-11 freshman Mike VanKirk. Alex blocked five shots and had a
double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the team’s lone
exhibition.

UNO will remain at home for three more contests
after Friday’s opener. The Privateers will host Southern Illinois on
Monday at 7 p.m. with games to follow against Bethune Cookman (Nov. 15)
and Blue Mountain College (Nov. 20).

FOLLOWING THE PRIVATEERS ON FRIDAY
Friday night’s game will not be aired on the radio due to high school
football conflicts. A free audio stream featuring play-by-play voice Ro
Brown and color commentator Ryan Duplessis will be available on
UNOPrivateers.com in addition to a pay-per-view video stream on the UNO
Showcase. The remainder of the schedule will be broadcast via the radio
with Brown joined by Duplessis for home contests. UNO's broadcast
arrangements will be formally announced in the coming days. Live stats
will be available on UNOPrivateers.com for all home games.

PRIVATEER FAN FEST PRIOR TO GAME
Prior to Friday’s doubleheader, the New Orleans athletic department
will host a ‘Fan Fest’ on the Lakefront Arena grounds. The ‘Fan Fest’
kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and runs through 7 p.m. with food, games and live
entertainment. The two featured entertainment acts at the heart of the
Privateer Tailgate Village will be UNO student band Fuj and T-Ray, a
UNO alum who plays hip hop violin.

SEASON TICKETS REMAIN ON SALE Season tickets remain on-sale by calling (504) 280-GAME or e-mailing unotickets@uno.edu.
Discounted rates are available for members of the UNO International
Alumni Association, as well as members of the UNO faculty and staff.